Mitch - congrats. Love that image. Remember seeing it recently during your posts about film scanning. Hope that's working out for you.
Allen - 21/1.8 is a great all-round 21mm lens. In some ways better than the 21 Lux and once stopped down a bit, rivals slower 21s. Though it being Cosina-Voigtlander, doesn't have maybe as much pop/micro contrast as the 21 SEM or ZM offerings.
Haven't posted for ages...
Here's one that's kind of an outtake from a job (poses aren't exactly the way I wanted), but with my preferred processing. Probably not how it will ever be used by the client.
Nice Ron! A professional shoot with a Leica - gasp! I really like what you did here with the reflection - very unique. I also think the B&W works well.
Thanks guys! Yeah, I don't post much of my paid stuff either. Just was working on this job, the image wasn't of a sensitive nature, I liked it, and happened to shoot it on the Leica!
From an equipment perspective, the shoot was a funny one. I started off 'blazing' with the Canon gear (1DX, etc.) and brought in the M240 when a wider shot was called for, even on a tripod a few times! At about the point in the shoot of the reflection image above, I transitioned from DSLR to M240. About 75% of the shoot thereafter was with the Leica. Primarily because the situations were more wide angle type images, but I guess I also got more comfortable with the Leica. For the last month or so of paid work I've been primarily shooting DSLR (a lot of sports/action stuff) and was getting a bit rusty with the Leica. And my M240's RF is off and my 50 Lux ASPH is a bit out, too, so some hesitation to rely on it at the outset of the shoot....
Looking through the shoot and I'm a bit disappointed I didn't shoot more Leica earlier, in part because I used the 50L a lot on the 1DX. While I like its character, it's not the sharpest (or most AF consistent) lens. There were enough missed-focus images with it (in the f/2.8 range, where it has some focus shift) to annoy me during the edit. At f/2-2.8 the Lux ASPH blows it out of the water (for sharpness).
I like the reflection too, but have to watch it doesn't become too much of a gimmick. I use this technique fairly often during weddings. The stock photo proofs the client pulled as suggestions for the shoot had a number of images leaning this way (though more along the lines of boardroom table reflections).
FWIW, I did use live view a fair amount for framing purposes. More so than focusing.
Here are some from Munich back in January that I think I didn't post...
Question for you Leica folks: I'm about to pull the trigger on a chrome 50 Lux ASPH ... currently I have a V2 Pre-ASPH, and love it, but want a little (or a lot, preferably) more sharpness near the edges, at f/1.4-2.0. Think the Lux ASPH will do the trick? I always get antsy throwing down this much for new lenses. Found a solid deal on the new Lux - so my question is, jump on the chrome, or wait for a similar deal on the lighter black lens? I've handled a chrome one a bit, and didn't find it *too* heavy, but it was noticeably more than the black version.
Ryan, The Lux ASPH will be sharper towards the edges from wide open, however it has an area of mid zone weakness that can affect sharpness of subject matter placed in rule of third areas. IMO it's worst at around f/2.8-4, after which stopping down reduces the effect considerably. Not sure if it's just field curvature or actual resolution drop in that area, but it can make nailing focus on a RF camera tricky with focus and recompose.
I also have the chrome version. I'm not sure if my copy is representative, but I have had some problems with the lens loosening up over time and requiring servicing. The loosening of the lens body eventually threw off RF calibration and noticeably degraded wide open performance (a lot more glowy). I've heard from a couple other chrome Lux ASPH owners who have reported similar, as well as one or two black version owners. Last service visit Leica completely replaced the focus mount (I guess helicoid and RF cam) and the lens came back very tight (in a good way) and has remained so over the last year or so.
I should say I like the lens a lot and while I have a collection of (too) many M & LTM 50s, the Lux ASPH is my daily go-to 50. Just be aware that it has some quirks and requires some consideration in use.
Just got a Minolta MD 58 1.2 lens for my XK film camera. It has a great reputation, but I couldn't wait to see so I slapped it onto my M240 and took a snap of the nearest photogenic object within 10 feet of me..
I call this 'Dog on Lap demonstrating righteous 58 1.2 bokeh'
I use rf lenses (Leitz, Zeiss, Voigt) about 95% of the time on the M. But for those moments when you want something different - macro, telephoto, zoom - or just want to sample cheap but awesome glass, the M with Live View (I akshully use the Olympus VF2) really broadens your photographic horizons.
Yeah I want an MD, but I don't want to give up my M.
Thanks Ron! As long as it's reasonably sharp in those mid-zone areas, I think I'll be good. I'm not a huge sharpness guy, but it doesn't hurt. My favorite lens, maybe ever, is the 58/1.4G ... so if the ASPH is as good or better across the frame at 1.4-2, I'll be happy.
I've actually wondered if the heavier brass construction could have any detrimental effects, like you mentioned. I think I'm going to go for it... under $2500 seems like a reasonably good deal for one in good shape. (Right?)
Yeah I'd say that's a good deal. I got mine recently in black with a couple wear spots on the lens body, super clean glass (but slightly oily aperture blades, which was not described in the listing) for $2300. I find the lens slightly more difficult to use than my 50mm summicron was. I do however really like the output, I'm just not 100% sure it's spot on or not.
When I was shopping for the lens that was the best price I'd come across by far as all the others were in the $2900+ range which exceeded my budget.
Ryan, I haven't followed used prices that much recently. I guess it's pretty good. I noticed Leica US's 'perpetual' 12% exchange rate discount ended yesterday and prices are back up again. So once again, it's rather attractive to buy from the EU or Hong Kong instead of the US...
rscheffler wrote:
I noticed Leica US's 'perpetual' 12% exchange rate discount ended yesterday and prices are back up again. So once again, it's rather attractive to buy from the EU or Hong Kong instead of the US...
Not only ended 12% discount but I think they also raised prices on some lenses
